“Coma” is such a creepy medical thriller that I caution anyone scheduled for surgery not to watch; record it for later, when you're back in the comfort of your home.

I'm sure glad I didn't view the preview discs before going into the operating room last month to get my broken arm mended. Otherwise, I may have fought the anesthesia tooth and nail.

The four-hour scare ride, the second adaptation of Robin Cook's novel, airs at 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday on A&E. In it, paranoia runs rampant. An inordinate number of healthy patients who are wheeled into routine surgeries, such as a knee operation or cyst removal, mysteriously fall into comas.

Is something sinister happening at Atlanta's Peachtree Memorial? Plucky and caring new medical intern Susan Wheeler (Lauren Ambrose, “Six Feet Under”), one of the students under the tutelage of surgeons there, is beginning to wonder.

It doesn't take long for her to get into amateur sleuth mode — with a little help from her friends. Problem is, everyone who lends a hand seems to get burned. First, her roommate, also in the medical field at Peachtree, is fired. Then her handsome supervisor, Dr. Mark Bellows (Steven Pasquale), becomes a target.

Besides, can she really rely on Dr. Bellows? After all, he appears to be climbing to the top via an affair with Dr. Lindquist (Geena Davis), Memorial's head of psychiatry, who also has her own agenda. And didn't the hospital's prestigious chief of staff (James Woods) warn Susan she should “trust no one”?

All clues eventually point to Jefferson Institute, the state-of-the-art fortress that houses the many patients who have fallen into this deeper-than-deep sleep.

“Coma,” a kind of nightmarish spin on medical advances such as stem-cell research and organ harvesting, is more horrific visually than the 1978 film adaptation thanks to masterful — astonishing, really — special effects. It also should be noted that brothers Ridley and Tony Scott executive-produced the series; it was the latter's last TV effort before his death last month.

Don't go into “Coma” expecting a perfectly crafted horror tale; the miniseries is marred by confusion at times, soapy writing and one too many plotlines.

However, its heart-race pace, stunning imagery and memorable damsel-in-distress turn by Ambrose add up to a deliciously disturbing way to cap off the holiday weekend.

S.A.'s little talent

When San Antonio's little mariachi sensation belts it on “America's Got Talent” Tuesday (at 7 p.m. on NBC), he'll do so as the only child singer left standing.

How does that feel — particularly in an unusual season that seems to be favoring variety acts rather than vocalists? (A comic, a sand artist and a showman of an earth harpist have made it into the finals so far.)

His plans? After taking a chance and crooning Frank Sinatra's “New York, New York” in English for the wild card round, Sebastien said he'll return to his mariachi roots for his go at the finals. He'll sing in Spanish but with a twist: “a little bit of opera,” he promised. “It will be a big surprise for America.”

Enough to win over Howard Stern, the one judge who leveled criticism at the tiny singer? “Although I'm little,” he said, “I'll show (Howard) from the heart what I can do.

“Even if I don't make it as the million-dollar act, I still think I made it far enough ... and I want to sing for the rest of my life.”